Shloka 18

लिङ्गार्चनपूर्वकं स्नानाचमनविधिः

Snana–Achamana as Preparation for Linga-Archana

Devanagari script

सर्वपापविशुद्ध्यर्थम् आवाह्य वरुणं तथा सम्पूज्य मनसा देवं ध्यानयज्ञेन वै भवम्

Transliteration

sarvapāpaviśuddhyartham āvāhya varuṇaṃ tathā sampūjya manasā devaṃ dhyānayajñena vai bhavam

Translation

为净除一切罪垢，当召请伐楼那（Varuṇa）；并以心意于内恭敬供养主神，复以禅观之祭（dhyāna-yajña）礼敬婆婆（Bhava，即湿婆）。

Word by Word

• सर्व-पाप-विशुद्धि-अर्थम्: for the purpose of cleansing all sins

• आवाह्य: having invoked

• वरुणम्: Varuṇa (deity of waters/ṛta)

• तथा: and then/likewise

• सम्पूज्य: having duly worshipped

• मनसा: with the mind, inwardly

• देवम्: the Deity, the Lord

• ध्यान-यज्ञेन: by the meditation-sacrifice (inner yajña)

• वै: indeed

• भवम्: Bhava—Śiva, the Pati (Lord).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Puja-vidhi to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Varuna
• Shiva (Bhava)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It places purification first—invoking Varuṇa for cleansing—and then elevates Linga-worship into manasa-puja, where Śiva (Bhava) is approached as Pati through dhyāna-yajña (inner sacrifice).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is named Bhava, the Lord to be realized inwardly; the verse implies that true approach to Shiva-tattva is not only external rite but inner absorption, where the mind becomes the altar and meditation becomes the offering.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Dhyāna-yajña—meditation as a sacrificial act—paired with manasa-puja, aligning ritual purity with a Pāśupata-leaning inner discipline to loosen pasha (bondage) upon the pashu (individual soul).